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vanessa_ca

(947 posts) Thu Mar 12, 2026, 06:15 PM Mar 12

KC-135 tanker involved in Epic Fury goes down in Iraq: CENTCOM [View all]

Source: Breaking Defense

WASHINGTON — A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker air refueler crashed in Iraq due to an “incident” that “occurred in friendly airspace,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement late Thursday.

Casualties and circumstances surrounding the crash are not immediately clear. According to CENTCOM, the incident was “not due to hostile or friendly fire” and occurred during Operation Epic Fury, the US military’s name for the war against Iran.

Three US F-15s were recently shot down over Kuwait in a friendly fire incident, but all pilots involved ejected safely. The Stratotanker, however, does not have ejection seats. CENTCOM said “rescue efforts are ongoing.”

Two aircraft were apparently involved in events that precipitated the tanker’s crash, though it’s not clear if it occurred amid a refueling mission. The other aircraft “landed safely” according to CENTCOM, which did not describe the aircraft in question.

Read more: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/kc-135-tanker-involved-in-epic-fury-goes-down-in-iraq-centcom/

61 replies

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KC-135 tanker involved in Epic Fury goes down in Iraq: CENTCOM [View all] vanessa_ca Mar 12 OP

based on the 707. these ancient craft must be heck to maintain nt msongs Mar 12 #1

I know, my Dad was flying them in Viet Nam. Irish_Dem Mar 12 #3

They fly out of Seymour Johnston AFB DenaliDemocrat Mar 13 #51

I think it is a Boeing 707 frame. Irish_Dem Mar 13 #54

I was an AWACS crewmember Puppyjive Mar 12 #18

Actually it's based on a dash 80. The KC-135 was about a year ahead of the 707. Angleae Mar 13 #44

But no consideration for crew viability? OAITW r.2.0 Mar 13 #45

None RoseTrellis Mar 13 #49

Thank you! KT2000 Mar 13 #52

Oh no.... Irish_Dem Mar 12 #2

Not good. A second KC 135 "landed safely in Israel" vanessa_ca Mar 12 #6

Crew of six. Irish_Dem Mar 12 #14

There are lots of Iranian drones moving thru that Captain Zero Mar 13 #56

When will they realize that it's more humiliating to claim combat losses are accidents vanessa_ca Mar 13 #58

In flight refueling has inherent risks. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #4

It's weird that both affected planes were refuelers Prairie Gates Mar 12 #9

That is odd... 2naSalit Mar 12 #12

I saw two of the Pegasus tankers very close tonekat Mar 12 #24

That's what I saw... 2naSalit Mar 12 #25

I didn't know that it involved 2 KC-135 tankers. That's really crazy. I have to believe each tanker has at least OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #13

CENTCOM's only saying two aircraft Prairie Gates Mar 12 #20

I would think mid-air refueling tankers are closely watched to avoid this very situation. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #21

Pic downthread would seem to confirm that both the crashed aircraft and the safely landed one Prairie Gates Mar 12 #32

Why would that happen? OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #35

Unlikely... 2naSalit Mar 12 #11

I didn't know all the facts when I posted. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #16

It's a reasonable one but... 2naSalit Mar 12 #22

True story....worked at a gas bottling plant in Portland, Maine for 8 months, We bottled from bulk,. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #37

Not avgas RoseTrellis Mar 13 #47

That was after my time... 2naSalit Mar 13 #55

I remember when one blew up over Illinois in 1982 Hassin Bin Sober Mar 12 #33

Just got a Guardian breaking news banner BumRushDaShow Mar 12 #5

I'm going to call this one: add three to the KIA tally Prairie Gates Mar 12 #7

I hope not, but I fear you're right -eom vanessa_ca Mar 12 #10

Anything approved for news by this administration is suspect CentralMass Mar 12 #8

No ejection seats on this aircraft. mn9driver Mar 12 #15

Given the danger of this flight requirement....seems like ejection seats for the pilots and the OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #17

Might be a side door... 2naSalit Mar 12 #23

Pretty doubtful. Once they are locked into their seat, given their situation...not a lot of time to figure a quick exit OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #26

Hmm... 2naSalit Mar 12 #27

Let's say you lose a wing or tail at 35,000 ft, flying at 450mph.. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #29

They don't even have parachutes anymore vanessa_ca Mar 12 #36

So, help me understand. Fighter pilots need ejection support,,,,but tanker pilots don't? OAITW r.2.0 Mar 13 #38

That's my logical understanding, but I can't add anything vanessa_ca Mar 13 #39

While I am a pilot.... OAITW r.2.0 Mar 13 #41

Compared to 0 hours in no seat of any Cessna (me) lol vanessa_ca Mar 13 #43

Not just tankers. RoseTrellis Mar 13 #48

mission scope is different, and structure wise its very different DetroitLegalBeagle Mar 13 #53

Don'tcha think Pilots in tanker have exposure? OAITW r.2.0 Mar 14 #59

Their mission scope generally doesnt have them exposed to enemy aircraft DetroitLegalBeagle Mar 15 #60

Seems like missile technology has evolved over the years. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 17 #61

The Epstein Administration will be claiming the media is trying to make it look bad. Marcuse Mar 12 #19

Fatigue Maninacan Mar 12 #28

Pic of KC-135 after landing in Tel Aviv with nearly half of its vertical stabilizer torn away vanessa_ca Mar 12 #30

Mid-air collision between two KC-135s is the claim from CENTCOM, then Prairie Gates Mar 12 #31

I know vanessa_ca Mar 12 #34

Tankers do not collide on mission. They are totally controlled by AWACs on theater, OAITW r.2.0 Mar 13 #42

The Stratotanker, however, does not have ejection seats. CENTCOM said "rescue efforts are ongoing." riversedge Mar 13 #40

The pilots, the crew, and the planes would all be fine if not for Trump's unneeded war Botany Mar 13 #46

Operation Epic Fuckup. milestogo Mar 13 #50

The plane was based at Joint Base Andrews. mahatmakanejeeves Mar 13 #57